Camber correcting method and means



Jan. 22, 1957 E. D. WILKERSON 2,778,401

I CAMBER CORRECTING METHOD AND MEANS Filed April 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J3 In,

K A J0 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 22, 1957 E. D. WILKERSON 2,778,401

CAMBER CORRECTING METHOD AND MEANS Filed A ril 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR ZTfiH/Z'Zfde 7-50 n ATTORNEYS United States Patent CAMBER CORRECTING METHOD AND MEANS Edward D. Wilkerson, Livingston, N. J.

Application April 22, 1955, Serial No. 503,077

14 Claims. (Cl. 153-32) In correcting the camber of the front wheels of automobiles having conventional knee action, it is customary to bend the upper portions of the support arms on which the wheels are mounted. Such bending is usually accomplished by engaging a known arm-bending tool with the support arm of any wheel which is off camber and operating said tool by means of a hydraulicram.

When increasing camber, necessitating that the tool be swung toward the wheel, it has been customary to place the base of the ram against the pivot shaft of the lower control arm or some other available part of the car chassis. When decreasing camber, however, necessitating that the tool be swung away from the wheel, a rather complicated ram operated pull mechanism has been heretofore used to pull upon the lower end of the tool, this mechanism being anchored to some available part of the chassis.

In either case, there is danger of unduly straining the chassis part upon which the ram reacts while acting to bend the support arm, as a great deal of force is required for two reasons. First, the resistance of the arm to bending must be overcome. Second, as arm bending occurs, the wheel tire must actually slide laterally on its supporting surface, inwardly if camber is being increased and outwardly if camber is being decreased.

The present invention aims to overcome danger of injury to chassis parts while bending the support arm, to relieve the bending tool of a great deal of strain and to accomplish the bending operation more easily.

In carrying out the above end, another object is to improve upon the old method by transmitting the reaction thrust of the ram to the lower portion of the wheel in a direction to laterally slide said wheel portion as dictated by the arm bending operation. Thus, the ram will not react against any chassis parts vulnerable to injury. Moreover, as both the thrust of the ram and the reaction thrust thereof cooperate to the single end of camber correction, said correction may be performed more easily and with less strain on the tool than heretofore.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel method for increasing camber with the aid of the bending tool, the ram, and a pull member, said method compiising the steps of engaging said tool with the support arm, engaging the pull member with the lower portion of the wheel and extending it inwardly beyond the bending tool, interposing the ram between the bending tool and the inner end of the pull member, and operating said ram to inwardly move said pull member and outwardly push upon the tool.

A still further object is to provide a novel method for decreasing camber with the aid of the bending tool, the ram and an abutment member, said method comprising the steps of engagingsaid tool with the support arm, placing said abutment member against the inner side of the lower portion of the wheel, interposing said ram between said tool and said abutment member, and operating said ram to" simultaneously push outwardly on said abutment member and inwardly on said tool.

Another object is to provide a novel and advantageous pull member for cooperation with the ram in inwardly sliding the lower portion of the wheel when increasing camber.

Yet another object is to embody the pull member in the form of a yoke having pivotally connected said arms provided with abutments at their free-ends to abut the outer side wall of the wheel tire, adjacent the wheel supporting surface. Thus, the yoke may be readily opened and closed to facilitate application and removal thereof and the abutments will act directly on the tire to inwardly slide the latter.

A further object is to provide a novel abutment to engage the inner side wall of the wheel tire, adjacent the wheel supporting surface, to receive the outward thrust of the ram as the latter forces inwardly on the armbending tool to decrease camber, thereby sliding the lower portion of the tire outwardly as required.

A still further object is to provide comparatively simple 7 and inexpensive yet highly effective and advantageous construction.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a fragmentary front elevation of a wheel and its knee-action mounting means, showing the arm-bending tool, the. wheel sliding yoke and the ram operatively related to in crease camber.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the wheel sliding yoke of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation as by line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the arm-bending tool, the ram and the tire-engaging abutment operatively related to decrease camber.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of tire-engaging abutment member shown in Fig. 4.

The drawings illustrate the preferred construction of the mechanical features of the invention and while the disclosed construction will be rather specifically described, it is to be understood that variations may well be made. Also, it is to be understood that while the method steps may be more expeditiously carried out with the aid of the specific mechanical elements shown, said steps may well be performed with the aid of other apparatus.

in the drawings, a conventional knee-action mounting for the right front wheel W of an automobile has been shown to aid in disclosing the invention. The vertical support arm A is pivoted to the upper and lower control arms U and L and the Wheel spindle is pivotally mounted on said support arm A by the usual knuckles K and king pin P. However, the invention may also be practiced with the more modern front wheel suspension in which the support arm is connected by ball joints with the control arms and in which said control arm rigidly carries the wheel spindle.

indicated To increase camber (Figure 1) according to the pres-' ent invention, an arm-bending tool 10, a ram 11 and a wheel-sliding pull member 12 are employed, each of any adequate form. The arm-bending tool 10 is shown of the construction disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,431,291 issued November 18, 1947, to H. Wochner. This tool embodies a head 13 having two lugs 14 and 15 to embrace the upper end portion of the support arm A, said head 12 being rotatively adjustable to one position (Figure 1) for increasing camber and to another position (Figure 4) for decreasing camber.

To increase camber (Figure 1) the lower end of the tool is forced by the ram 11 toward the wheel W. This action bends the upper portion of the support arm A in a direction to swing the wheel spindle downwardly, thereby moving the lower portion of the wheel inwardly. During this wheel movement, the tire T must slide inwardly upon its supporting surface. Thus, the resistance of the support arm A to bending and the resistance of the tire T to sliding must both be overcome, and, heretofore, this has required a great deal of force and has placedgreat strain on the tool 10. The present invention however slides the tire inwardly by pulling upon the lower portion of the wheel While the tool is being operated to bend the arm A. The bending operation may thus be more easily performed and the tool 10 is relieved of a great deal of strain. Moreover, when increasing camber with the present invention the ram 11 reacts against the pull member 12 and not against some chassis part which might be injured thereby.

To decrease camber (Figure 4) the lower end of the tool 10 is forced by the ram 11 away from the wheel W, thus bending the upper portion of the control arm A ina direction to upwardly swing the wheel spindle. Here also, the tire T must slide laterally on its supporting surface but outwardly instead of inwardly. Consequently, great force has heretofore been required to overcome the resistance of the arm A to bending and the resistance of the tire T to sliding and severe strain has been placed on the tool 10. However, the present invention slides the tire outwardly by directly pushing against the lower portion of the wheel W while the tool 10 is being operated to bend the arm A. The bending operation may be thus more easily accomplished and here again, the tool is relieved of a great deal of strain. Moreover, when decreasing camber with the present invention, the ram 11 reacts against the wheel W and not against any chassis part which might be injured by the reaction.

The pull member 12 (Figures 1 to 3) is preferably in the form of a yoke to embrace the lower portion of the wheel W. This yoke comprises a front side arm 16 and a rear side arm 17, said arms being straight in side view for the greater part of their lengths but being preferably upwardly curved somewhat at their outer ends. In plan view, the arms 16 and 17 converge from points near their outer ends, toward their inner ends. These arms 16 and 17 have inwardly directed inner ends 18 which are pivotally connected at 19, said ends 18 forming an abutment 20 against which to place the base of the ram 11. The outer ends of the arms 16 and 17 are provided with wheel abutments 21 which are preferably integral therewith, said abutments 21 being adapted to abut the lower portion of the outer side wall of the tire T adjacent the tire supporting surface. To prevent injury to the tire, the abutments 21 are transversely curved into substantial conformity with the transverse curvature of the tire.

In use the outer end of the yoke 12 rests on the floor or the like supporting the car and the inner end of said yoke is suificiently elevated to allow the ram 11 to properly thrust against the tool 10 and the abutment Ztl. The thrust of the ram 11 against the tool 10 operates the latter to bend the support arm A in camber-increasing direction and the reaction thrust of said ram against the abutment 20 pulls the yoke 12 inwardly to slide the tire T inwardly as required. The pivotal connection 19 permits opening and closing of the yoke 12 to facilitate application and removal of said yoke.

To carry out the present method of increasing camber (Figure l) with the aid of the arm-bending tool 10, the ram 11 and the pull member 12, the following steps are performed.

(1) Engage the tool 10 with the support arm A; (2) engage the pull member 12 with the lower portion of the wheel W and extend it inwardly beyond the tool It (3) interpose the ram 11 between the tool 10 and the inner end of the pull member 12; and, (4) operate the ram 11 to inwardly pull upon the pull member 12 and simultaneously outwardly push upon the tool 16. These steps result in camber increasing bending of the support arm A and simultaneous inward sliding of the tire T on its supporting surface, the one being accomplished by the thrust of one end ofthe ram and the other by the reaction thrust of the other end of said ram.

Figures 4 and 5 relate to decreasing camber. In these views, the tool 1% and ram 11 are the same as before but the tool head 13 has been rotatively adjusted to bend the support arm A in the opposite direction from Figure 1 and the lower end of said tool It) must now be swung away from instead of toward the wheel W. The ram 11 is utilized to operate the tool 14 and to push outwardly against the lowe-r portion of the wheel W to slide the tire outwardly as required.

An abutment member 22 is provided to engage the lower portion of the inner side wall of the wheel tire T and to rest on the wheel supporting surface. This abutment member 22 has a tire seat 23 and a ram seat 24, said ram seat facing away from said tire seat. This tire seat 23 is curved in substantial conformity with the tire curvature and the ram seat 24 is preferably plane and inclined as shown.

To carry out the present method of decreasing camber (Figure 4) with the aid of the arm-bending tool 10, the ram 11 and the abutment member 22, the following steps are performed: (1) Engage the tool 10 with the support arm A; (2) place the abutment member 22 against the inner side of the lower portion of the tire T; (3) interpose the ram 11 between the tool 10 and abutment member 22; and (4) operate said ram to simultaneously push outwardly on said abutment member 22 and inwardly on said tool 10. These steps result in camber decreasing bending of the support arm A and simultaneous outward sliding of the tire T on its supporting surface, the one being accomplished by the thrust of one end of the ram 11 and the other by the reaction thrust of the other end of said ram.

From the foregoing it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for attaining the desired ends. However, attention is again invited to the possibility of making structural variations and also to the possibility of utilizing apparatus other than that shown to aid in performing the method steps.

I claim:

1. In a method of correcting the camber of a wheel mounted on a support arm and embodying the utilization of a ram to operate a support arm bending tool; the step of transmitting the reaction thrust of the ram to the lower portion of the wheel in a direction to laterally slide said wheel portion as dictated by the direction in which the support arm is being bent.

2. In a method of increasing camber of a wheel mounted on a support arm and embodying the utilization of a ram to operate a support arm bending tool; the step of transmitting the reaction thrust of the ram to the lower portion of the wheel in a direcion to inwardly slide said lower portion of said wheel.

3. In a method of decreasing camber of a wheel mounted on a support arm and embodying the utilization of a ram to operate a support arm bending tool; the step of transmitting the reaction thrust of said ram to the lower portion of the wheel in a direction to outwardly slide said lower portion of the wheel.

4. In a method of correcting the camber of a wheel mounted on a support arm, with the aid of an arm bending tool, a pull member and a ram; the steps of engaging the tool with the support arm, engaging the pull member with the lower portion of the wheel and extending it inwardly beyond the bending tool, interposing the ram between the bending tool and the inner end of the pull member, and operating said ram to inwardly move said pull member and outwardly push upon the tool, thereby increasing camber.

5. In a method of correcting the camber of a wheel mounted on a support arm, with the aid of an arm bending tool, an abutment member, and a ram; the steps of engaging said tool with said supportarm, placing said abutment member against the inner side of the lower portion of the wheel, interposing said ram between said tool and said abutment member, and operating said ram to simultaneously push outwardly on said abutment member and inwardly on said tool, thereby decreasing camber.

6. In an apparatus for bending the support arm of a wheel to correct camber, an arm bending tool engaged with the support arm to increase camber when forced toward the wheel, a pull member engaging the lower portion of the wheel and extending inwardly from the latter, said pull member having a ram abutment spaced inwardly from the lower end of said tool, and a ram interposed between said ram abutment and said lower end of said tool; whereby operation of said ram will pull the lower portion of the wheel inwardly and simultaneously push the lower end of the tool outwardly, thereby increasing camber.

7. In an apparatus for bending the support arm of a wheel to correct camber, an arm bending tool engaged with the support arm to decrease camber when forced inwardly away from the wheel, an abutment member p'osi tioned against the inner side of the lower portion of the wheel, and a ram interposed between said abutment member and the lower end of said tool; whereby operation of said ram will push the lower portion of the wheel outwardly and simultaneously push the lower end of the tool inwardly, thereby decreasing camber.

8. In an apparatus for increasing the camber of a wheel, an elongated pull member having abutment means at one end to abut the outer side of the lower portion of the wheel, said pull member also having a ram abutment at its other end, said ram abutment facing the aforesaid abutment means.

9. In an apparatus for increasing the camber of a wheel, an elongated pull yoke to embrace the lower portion of the wheel and extend inwardly therefrom, the outer end of said yoke having abutment means to abut the outer side of the lower portion of the wheel, the inner end of said yoke having a ram abutment facing the aforesaid abutment means.

10. In an apparatus for increasing the camber of a wheel, an elongated pull yoke to embrace the lower portion of the Wheel and extend inwardly therefrom, said yoke comprising a front side arm and a rear side arm, means pivotally connecting the inner ends of said side arms with each other, two Wheel abutments rigidly secured to the outer ends of said side arms respectively, said wheel abutments projecting toward each other to abut the outer side of the lower portion of the wheel, and a ram abutment rigidly secured to the inner end of at 6 least one of said side arms, said ram abutment facing said Wheel abutments.

11. In an apparatus for increasing the camber of a Wheel, an elongated pull yoke to embrace the lower portion of the wheel and extend inwardly therefrom, said yoke comprising a front side arm and a rear side arm, said side arrns having inwardly directed inner ends pivoted together and providing a ram abutment, and two wheel abutments rigidly secured to the outer ends of said side arms respectively, said Wheel abtuments projecting toward each other to abut the outer side of the lower portion of the wheel.

12. A structure as specified in claim 8; said abutment means being adapted to abut a portion of the outer side wall of the wheel tire and being transversely curved in substantial conformity therewith.

13. A structure as specified in claim 10; said Wheel abutments being adapted to abut a portion of the outer side Wall of the wheel tire and being transversely curved in substantial conformity therewith.

14. In an apparatus for decreasing the camber of a wheel, an abutment member for disposition at the inner side of the Wheel upon a surface supporting said wheel, said abutment member having a tire seat curved to engage a portion of the inner side wall of the wheel tire, said abutment member also having a ram abutting seat facing away from said tire seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,443,075 Guilford Jan. 23, 1923 1,644,111 Dearborn Oct. 4, 1927 1,815,180 Bennett July 21, 1931 1,850,073 Countryrnan Mar. 22, 1932 1,992,521 Creagmile Feb. 26, 1935 2,115,766 Graham May 3, 1938 2,256,231 Bender Sept. 16, 1941 2,431,291 Wochner Nov. 18, 1947 2,572,654 Nielsen Oct. 23, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 119,363 Australia Dec. 30, 1944 OTHER REFERENCES Page 40 of Porto-Power Profits, a publication of Blackhawk Mfg. Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., designated as No. 239P Service Manual. 

